Queen

04/06/2012

It's a little ironic. I started having an unexplainable and lasting surge of emotion for Freddie Mercury of Queen yesterday. Bohemian Rhapsody was the first music video I ever saw. I remember watching it during The Midnight Special. As soon as stores were open, I ran out and got the first Queen album I could get my hands on. That turned out to be Queen II. From then on I was hooked on Freddie. His intensity and incredible talent, not just in his vocal range but in creating - both lyrics and tunes... not to mention the whole group Queen, was enough to keep a teenager amused and out of trouble (most of the time). I don't understand why I was suddenly re-drawn to him after all these years. Maybe I didn't really get to mourn his death, as I was in the throes of an ugly and abusive relationship at the time. Maybe he somehow represents my father, who also died too young, and I needed to mourn him. Maybe I'm going middle-aged crazy. Maybe I'm just weird (my husband's suggestion).
Then I wake up this morning and realize that today is Good Friday. Well now. What might that have to do with my strange feelings for Freddie yesterday? I don't want to get religious, or make anyone who is religious angry with a comparison of Freddie to Jesus, but here's an idea. Jesus was a bit of a rock star in his day. The folks who would balk at the idea of me saying that Freddie was in some ways a modern-day Jesus would represent those who persecuted Jesus back in the day. What can Freddie, his incredible life (and untimely death) teach us today?
And if god is willing
we will meet again
someday
……Freddie Mercury, Barcelona, 1987